Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, the Social and the Political in African American Art

Now through December 31

African American Museum of Philadelphia

701 Arch Street

Last week, I got a sneak preview of The African American Museum of Philadelphia's new exhibition, Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, the Social and the Political in African American Art.  This powerful collection of work explores art's role in interpreting the fullness of the African American experience and includes more than 90 paintings, prints, drawings, photographs and sculptures by 36 artists. 

Mixing Metaphors is organized into three thematic sections that provide a lens through which to view the art; Reflections and Likeness, Constructing Place and Rituals of Existence. Each of these sections include a fantastic selection of images by noted photographers, all of which provide a very tangible sense of the collection's historical context and significance. The exhibit includes proud images of inner-city youth and southern families, Martin Luther King marching on Washington and on the first non-segregated bus, and intimate images of period icons like John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan and Muhammad Ali.

"This show will bring people into a context of where their life is and what it has been, reflected through other people's memories and experiences." said AAMP curator, Richard Watson during our walk through the exhibition. "You will see young people who will see themselves in these pieces. You will see older people who will see themselves in the memories reflected in these pieces."

Mixing Metaphors presents the work of luminary African-American artists like, photographer, Gordon Parks, storyteller and quilt-artist, Faith Ringgold, and also contains work by significant emerging artists from around the country. Some the show's artists use their work to tell the stories of day-today living, or to reflect on ideas about identity, politics, music or love, while others use more abstract constructs like lines, colors and shapes to explore their subjects. In its entirety, Mixing Metaphors challenges the viewer to examines art's role in our community and how one's own experiences can affect the interpretation of the art. 

The exhibit will also include film screening of Separate, But Equal with a discussion with filmmaker Shawn Wilson, art-making workshops with local artists, artists’ talk with local artist Allen Edmunds, whose work is featured in the exhibit, and a musical poetry slam.

Together, the artists found within Mixing Metaphors truly represent the richness found within the African American story and true breadth and diversity found within our artistic community. You can checkout AAMP's website for the full programming schedule and exhibition details.